Day: January 25, 2024

Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces in 1986, a member of Regular Career Course 26.

He was adjudged the best in order of merit and awarded the Military Cane at the Ghana Military Academy.

After passing out of the Academy, he was posted to the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, Gondar Barracks in Accra as a Second Lieutenant.

He rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in March 2020, holding the positions of the General Officer Commanding, Southern Command of the Ghana Army, and the Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters for a year.

Other appointments held by the new CDS in the course of his career, include the Aide-de-Camp (personnel assistant )to the Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of the Defence Staff, Ghana Armed Forces and Operations/Training Officer, 64 Infantry Regiment where he rose to become the Commanding Officer with an additional appointment as Commanding Officer for the Arm
oured Reconnaissance Regiment.

He was also the Coordinator of State Transport Security and an Instructor for the Disaster Management Course, Army Combat Training School in Teshie.

He also held the position of Director of Strategic Intelligence Assessment of the Defence Intelligence Department, General Headquarters and Director Operations and Plans, Defence Industries Department, General Headquarters, amongst many others.

Major General Oppong-Peprah has undertaken several career progression courses. He is the first and the only Ghanaian military officer to have attended the Combined/Joint Forces Land Component Commanders Course at the USA Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

He is also a graduate of the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies in London, United Kingdom and pursued his Senior Intelligence Course at the Joint Intelligence Centre in Strasbourg, France.

He also studied Law of Combating Terrorism at the Defence Institute of International Legal Studies at Newport, Rhode Island, USA and
pursued his Senior Command and Staff Course at the United States (US) Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA.

Other career progression courses undertaken by him include the Senior Command and Staff Course at Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, in Teshie, the Junior Command and Staff Course at the Command and Staff College, Kaduna, Nigeria where he won the Best Allied Student Award and Armour Officer Basic Course at the US Army Armour School, Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA.

In peacekeeping operations, Maj Gen Oppong-Peprah has served as Humanitarian Officer on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda, as a Military Observer in the United Nations Aouzou Strip Observer Group in Libya and Chad, a Detachment Second-In- Command/Troop Leader on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon/Israel in 1987, 1989 and 1992, respectively.

He was a board member of the Governing Council of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for three years. He is married with
five children.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Following an overwhelming preponderance reoccurrence of power outage observed recently days in several cities across the country, especially Yaoundé and Douala, the Energy of Cameroon, ENEO, admited responsibility.

The accentuation of electricity cuts is due to the limited quantity of energy available for distribution, and the current low water level on the Ntem which has led to a significant drop in Memve’ele production, the company explained.

For several weeks, the base plant of the Lom Pangar reservoir dam, in the Eastern region of Cameroon, has been able to produce all of its 30 megawatt. But the lack of a transmission line between Bertoua and Abong Mbang, has amplified the constraint for the distribution of the hydroelectric plant to the rest of the South interconnected network, CNA learned.

Consequently, the average duration of the rotation could be extended or reduced, depending on the increase or decrease in the production deficit, in real time. Special measures are being taken to reduce, as much
as possible, the impact of this situation on households, ENEO said.

The head of state, Paul Biya in his 2023 end of year address to the nation, promised to upgrade, rehabilitate and extend the distribution network of this precious resource in the towns and villages to make it more accessible to the population.

‘Major strides have been made in the electricity sector to reduce our country’s energy deficit.

About 44 thousand solar panels have been installed in the three northern regions, covering 40% of electricity needs in the said regions.

The Lom Pangar Dam-toe plant will also be operational in 2024, and will help to increase energy supply

in the town of Bertoua and its environs’ said the Head of state.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The National Peace Council (NPC) has held a stakeholder workshop to finalise the draft of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide the management of students of all religions at mission schools.

The workshop comes after the Conference of Managers of Education Units (COMEU) presented a draft document to the NPC on religious tolerance and freedom in Ghana’s private and government-assisted mission schools.

Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the NPC, noted that the Peace Council was inundated with concerns about religious tolerance in schools, as some religious militants emerging across the country were escalating matters in a specific direction, and that clarity was needed on issues.

‘A broader draft document was presented by COMEU to the Peace Council in 2021 but they were asked to go back and make it specific, which they did. So, we are here to look at the draft again, expand it and make it more specific.

‘It is part of our mandate to resolve conflicts, so as part of the process we have to complete an
d come out with a document that would finalize this for us to move on as a country. There is the need for us to state clearly what the issues are,’ he said.

Rev. Adu-Gyamfi pointed out that students attend school to study, not to practice religion, so education must be prioritised.

‘Then, as they continue their education, they could include religious practices, because the missionaries established the schools for a reason, and they always keep to the core objectives for which they established the schools.

‘So, it is important for the public and the students to understand the objectives of such schools, know what they can or cannot do while there and accommodate all those who are not like them but are also there to study,’ he said.

According to the Chairman of the Peace Council, most schools accommodate all faiths, but because the public was misinformed, they made an issue out of nothing.

‘We want to put some of the already existing practices in the schools in the public domain so that everybody knows wha
t is going on.

‘We must ensure to do best for what is good for the country and not end up causing harm. There are individuals in the system who are championing this course, and we must resist their agenda.

‘We have coexisted as a people, and we should not allow these religious militants to come into the educational system,’ he admonished.

Rev. Adu-Gyamfi stated that once finalized, the draft would be made public and handed to the Ministry of Education as an agreement signed by all Mission schools.

Very. Rev. Naana Danyame, COMEU Trustee, explained that the MoU would level the playing field for all mission schools in terms of providing excellent and holistic education, ensuring that whatever happens in one mission school is replicated across the board.

‘We want uniformity devoid of conflicts, religious tolerance, and freedom, for everybody to be comfortable and study, so that the purpose for which the mission schools were established would be accomplished,’ she said.

She stated that faith-based schools p
rovide both holistic and quality education, with students graduating with good grades and moral values.

Most Rev. Paul Kwabena Boadi, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, stated that the draft was required to ease disputes over faith in mission schools.

‘With this MOU we will have a roadmap that will guide us to avoid all these moments of tensions which sometimes escalate from the schools and spread through the nation.

‘In sometime past on campuses we did not know some of these things. We understood ourselves, lived peacefully and came out and saw ourselves as one people. And that has been the basis of the peace we enjoy today and if we do not address what is threatening it now in our schools, we will be doing a big disservice to our country.’

Mr Bapuni Abdul-Karim, General Manager of the Islamic Education Unit, stated that the workshop would highlight what mission schools do and do not do, as COMEU addresses all education-related issues in their facilities to promote peaceful coexistence.

He also s
tated that the Unit would intensify its drive to promote peace and harmony among all faiths, stating, ‘Our schools are where we build children into the future, so we must groom them to become responsible adults in the future.’

Mr. Abdul-Karim advised heads of institutions not to consider their interests when administering their schools, but to adhere to the rules and regulations that bind them, rather than believing that they were in control and could take any action that could upset society.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Twenty-three companies had signed up early for the seventh edition in Shanghai on Jan 9. Among them are big names such as PepsiCo, Tesla, 3M and Bayer.

‘The CIIE facilitates economic and trade cooperation, and has helped PepsiCo know the Chinese market better,’ said Daniel Shih, vice-president of corporate affairs, APAC and Greater China at PepsiCo.

Highlights of the CIIE in the past six editions. Over the past six years, companies from 173 countries and regions have made appearances in the CIIE and achieved tentative transactions worth $424.23 billion. Last year, six-time CIIE exhibitor Singapore Business Federation (SBF) led a delegation of over 500 senior business representatives from 56 Singaporean companies to search fresh market opportunities. ‘The CIIE remains an essential platform for Singaporean companies to grow their business in the Chinese market, particularly in high-growth areas such as digital innovation and sustainability,’ said Kok Ping Soon, CEO of the SBF.

According to the Australian Tr
ade and Investment Commission, CIIE 2023 had a record attendance of nearly 250 Australian exhibitors. ‘We’re excited to meet Chinese customers and for all CIIE attendees to see the premium products we have to offer,’ said Jakob Stausholm, CEO of Rio Tinto, the first Fortune Global 500 company to make a 5-year commitment to the expo starting in 2024.

The Country Exhibition allowed 72 countries and international organizations to showcase their scientific and technological achievements, culture and art. ‘Thanks to the CIIE, our products like black tea, chocolates and coconut oil are now popular in China, and many Sri Lankan farmers have improved their lives as a result,’ said six-time CIIE participant Giguruwa Gamage Sathyajith Prasada from Sri Lanka.

Hongqiao International Economic Forum spotlights global issues. This year’s Hongqiao Forum will feature more globally renowned speakers who will share their insights on key international issues. Subsequent seminars will be conducted to invite opinions and suggest
ions for the topics to be discussed during the seventh Hongqiao Forum.

As a crucial part of the expo, the sixth Hongqiao International Economic Forum, also known as Hongqiao Forum, had a record attendance of over 8,000 participants and featured 22 sub-forums covering a range of subjects. High-profile government officials, Nobel?Prize laureates, and senior executives of industrial pacesetters from across the world were invited to discuss global issues such as financial reform and innovation, digital governance, and green investment. ‘The Hongqiao Forum is showing increasingly extensive influence worldwide. We regard the forum as a premier platform to enhance global communication and promote sustainable development,’ said Wang Dawei, economics affairs officer at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

CIIE 2024 welcomes more participants. The seventh CIIE will kick off another series of global roadshows from January 23 to 31 in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Australia, and more local firms are invit
ed to participate in CIIE 2024 and embrace the vast Chinese market. To date, more than 300 companies have booked over 130,000 square meters of exhibition area for CIIE 2024, which will take place from November 5 to 10 in Shanghai. Grab your spot now at: http://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/ Contact:Ms. Cui Yan Tel.:0086-21-968888

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have organised a 12-day Training of Trainers (TOT) for 50 participants in Kyebi in the Eastern Region.

The workshop aimed to train skilled instructors in information and communication technology (ICT) to pass on their knowledge and skills to individuals with visual impairments.

The participants included managers of the community ICT centres (CICs), regional managers of GIFEC, and teachers from the Ghana Blind Union.

Mr. Amoako Atta, Eastern Regional Manager of GIFEC, told the Ghana News Agency that about 200 visually impaired persons would benefit from the basic computer skills training that would take place at the various Community ICT Centres (GIFEC CICs) across the 16 regions of Ghana.

The training is expected to commence in the second week of February and will last for 60 days (about 2 months).

He said the basic skills will include how to access a computer, using the keyboard and othe
r assistive technologies in Windows, how to use Microsoft Office applications, mobile phone and social media usage, and the creation of email.

GIFEC and ITU organise such training every year for different groups of people across the country to build the digital capacities of citizens.

This training also forms part of the ongoing Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) project.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, says his office has halted investigations on Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and handed over the pursuit to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

He said so far investigations done by both his Office and FBI pointed towards money laundering and that his office lacked the mandate to pursue offences related to money laundering and structuring.

Mr Agyebeng made this known at a press conference shortly after it announced to an Accra High Court its decisions to discontinue the cases involving Ms Dapaah and her spouse, Mr. Daniel Osei-Kufour.

He said, ‘a little over an hour ago,’ the Office discontinued an application pending before the High Court for a confirmation of the seizure and freezing orders in pursuance of the referral of the case to EOCO.

The Court ordered a return of the seized cash sums and unfreezing of the bank accounts and investments within 72 hours.

The Office also discontinued the procedural criminal charge against Ms. Dapaah for failure to retu
rn forms on declaration of property and income.

Mr Agyebeng said extensive investigation was conducted in-country involving 20 persons and three State Institutions, and especially in the Ashanti Region to establish the financial standing of Ms. Dapaah’s deceased brother during his lifetime and at the time of his death.

He said from October 2023, the investigation became cross-border and transboundary upon the claim by the persons of interest that part of the seized cash sums was transported to Ghana from the United States.

For that reason, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States got involved in a collaborative investigative work with the Office on the matter.

The investigation has been aimed at determining the source(s) of the large cash sums associated with Ms. Dapaah and Mr Osei Kufuor.

He said after nearly seven months of extensive investigation by the OSP and a parallel inquiry by the FBI, no direct and immediate evidence of corruption has been found in the seized funds and fro
zen bank accounts linked to Ms. Dapaah and her associates.

He said the Office had officially transferred the investigation into the financial affairs and assets of the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, along with her associates, to EOCO

The Special Prosecutor said the investigation had identified strong indications of suspected money laundering and structuring, while the Office acknowledged these suspected offences, they did not fall directly within the mandate of the Office By law, the office could not investigate, prosecute nor recover proceeds of crime except those that fall within corruption and corruption related offences as defined under section 79 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

In compliance with section 3 of Act 959, which mandates the Office to cooperate and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies, the case has been transferred to EOCO for further investigation.

‘In August 2023, the OSP acted by freezing Ms. Dapaah’s bank accounts and confisca
ting 5590,000 dollars and GHS2.73 million from her residence after news of theft of substantial amount of cash in cedis and foreign currencies went viral,’ he added.

He said until today, the Office had been in court to confirm the frozen bank accounts and confirm the seized monies for longer periods pending outcome of investigations. A portion of the inquiry was entrusted to the FBI due to allegations suggesting involvement of transfer of funds from the United States.

He said one of the ‘contemporary legal problems that confront us as a country is the movement and the stashing of large sums of cash with its attendant likelihood of distorting economies.’

Ordinarily, it is not unlawful for a person to move or keep large cash sums as long as the money was lawfully acquired.

He said, ‘after all,’ it was the person’s money and as owner, that person might choose to do what pleases that person with that person’s money.

The Special Prosecutor said the important consideration was that the holder of large cash sum
s should be able to account for same as to the lawfulness of the source.

‘Therefore, where the source of the money is cast in some considerable doubt, then legal hurdles are raised, and questions are posed,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency